The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-03-10
A MAMMOTH ESTABLISHMENT
Something Of the Immense Business
Done by w. E. Gary & Co., Leaf
Tobacco Dealers.

In order that our history may be re-
corded before it passes out of the men,
orv of our busy, bustling, ahead
people, we have determined to chloni-
Gle, as we may have space, those en-
terprises most intimately connected
with our almost phenomenal growth
and prosperity; and as this is due
principally to our tobacco market,
which first excited that notice in 1872
and IS that has grown until our bright
tobacco is known and used in most
countries of the civilized world, We
shall first pay our attention to this por-
ton of our history.
To tell each step in our growth from
small village in 1870 of two or three
hundred, to our present population of
about thirty-five hundred, in one COM
munication would require more space
and detail than would be pleasant to
the historian or the reader. In this
article we shall have to content our
selves with a brief mention of our
largest dealers.
MESSRS. W. E. GARY CO.,
who came here regularly as visiting
buyers from the beginning of the mar
ket in 1872, when bright tobacco
making was but small industry, to
the year 1879, when the amount
brought here induced them to make
their home among us. Thus these
gentlemen, starting with our market in
its infancy, with their shoulder always
at the wheel, have grown along with
the town, until to day they stand at
the head of the tobacco dealers Of
North Carolina With the constantly
increasing confidence of the tobacco
world, and with orders from every sec
ton, they found it necessary in the
fall of 1883, to build their present
mammoth quarters, consisting of a
main building 4oxI1o feet, four stories
high, and a wing, of 4ox5o feet, four
stories high. In 1885, two years after,
not having sufficient room they erect
cd on same lot two story brick
building I2ox4o feet, which they fitted
up with an engine and steam fixtures
for drying and stemming. The two
houses have hanging room for about
three hundred thousand pounds at a
time, thus enabling them to accom-
plish what they do, handle more to-
bacco than any individual firm in
North Carolina. 1t will be understood
by this we do not mean some ware
houses who as general rule have to
buy quantity of scrap and inferior
stuff, don't buy more pounds. The
main, or wooden building is used ex-
clusively for tobacco bought for their
American orders, among which may
be found several of the oldest aud
most substantial manufacturing firms
IN this country. The brick, or steam
house is used only for tobacco shipped
| directly to European order. Notwith-
standing their immense purchases, all
on order, everything is managed with
the utmost system and precision, and
to this and their exceptional judgment
of tobacco, is due in great measure,
| their enviable success-a success we
are proud to note, as we are fully
aware they have contributed as much,
Cor more,) to our material growth as
any other men engaged in business
here. Certainly no one has done more
to introduce our market to the outside
world than Wyndham Gary. We saw
in their prize house on Monday bulk
of twenty-five or thirty thousand
pounds of fancy white wrappers, this
nor any other State can beat, for while
they fill orders for all grades, their
specially is fancy wrappers. Other to-
bacco interests will appear at an early
day.
1